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E144621
8. Inflate the tire to the pressure listed on
the tire label located on the driver's
door or the door jamb area. When the
sealing compound is first added into
the tire, the air pressure gauge reading
on the compressor unit may indicate a
higher value; this is normal and should
be no reason for concern. The pressure
will drop after about 30 seconds of
operation. The tire pressure has to be
checked with the compressor in the
OFF position to get the correct tire
pressure reading.
9. When the recommended tire pressure
is reached, turn off the kit by pressing
the on button; disconnect the kit from
the tire valve and the power point.
Re-install the valve cap on the tire
valve, place the tube cap on the metal
connector, and return the kit to the
stowage area
10. Immediately and cautiously, drive the
vehicle 4 miles (6 kilometers) to
distribute the sealant evenly inside
the tire. Do not exceed 50 mph (80
km/h).
11. After 4 miles (6 kilometers), stop and
check the tire pressure. See Second
stage: Checking tire pressure. Note: If you experience any unusual
vibration, ride disturbance or noise while
driving, reduce your speed until you can
safely pull off to the side of the road to call
for roadside assistance. Note: Do not
proceed to the second stage of this
operation.
Second Stage: Checking Tire
Pressure WARNINGS
If you are proceeding from the First
stage: Re–inflating the tire with
sealing compound and air section
and have injected sealant in the tire and
the pressure is below 20 psi (1.4 bar), stop
and call roadside assistance. If tire
pressure is above 20 psi (1.4 bar), continue
to the next step.
The power plug may get hot after use
and should be handled carefully
while unplugging.
Check the air pressure of your tires as
follows:
1. Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.
2. Unhook the black hose from the side
of the compressor and fasten firmly on
the valve stem by turning clockwise.
3. Push and turn the dial clockwise to the
air position. Turn on the kit by pressing
the on button.
270Wheels and Tires
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E144622
4. Adjust the tire to the recommended
inflation pressure from the tire label
located on the driver's door or door
jamb area. The tire pressure has to be
checked with the compressor in the
OFF position to get the correct tire
pressure reading.
5. Turn the compressor off by pressing
the on/off button.
6. Unplug the hoses, re-install the valve
cap on the tire and return the kit to the
stowage area.
What to do after the Tire has been
Sealed After using the kit to seal your tire, you will
need to replace the sealant canister and
clear tube (hose). Sealing compound and
spare parts can be obtained and replaced
at an authorized Ford Motor Company
dealership or tire dealer. Empty sealant
bottles may be disposed of at home;
however, liquid residue from the sealing
compound should be disposed by your
local Ford Motor Company dealership or
tire dealer, or in accordance with local
waste disposal regulations.
Note: After the sealing compound has been
used, the maximum vehicle speed is 50 mph
(80 km/h) and the maximum driving
distance is 120 miles (200 kilometers). The
sealed tire should be inspected immediately. Note: After sealant use, the tire pressure
monitoring system sensor and valve stem
on the wheel must be replaced by an
authorized Ford dealer.
You can check the tire pressure any time
within the 120 miles (200 kilometers) by
performing the procedure from Second
stage: Checking tire pressure listed
previously.
Removal of the sealant canister from
the kit E144623
1. Unwrap the clear tube from the
compressor housing. E144624
2. Locate the yellow cap at the end of the
clear tube.
271Wheels and Tires
Page 275 of 473
E144625
3. Using the yellow cap tool, press the tab
located on the kit compressor housing
while pulling up on the sealant canister.
Installation of the sealant canister to
the kit E144626
1. Align the sealant canister with the kit
housing.
E161567 2. Once aligned, seat the sealant canister
by lightly pushing down until you hear
an audible click. E144628
3. Wrap the clear tube around the
compressor housing.
Note: If you experience any difficulties with
the removal or installation of the sealant
canister, consult your Ford Motor Company
authorized dealer for assistance. E144629
Be sure to check the sealant compound's
use by date regularly. The use by date is
on the lower right hand corner of the label
located on the sealant canister (bottle).
The sealant canister should be replaced
after four years.
272Wheels and Tires
Page 276 of 473

TIRE CARE
Information About Uniform
Tire Quality Grading E142542
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires.
The Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example: Treadwear 200
Traction AA Temperature A .
These Tire Quality Grades are
determined by standards that the
United States Department of
Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires.
They do not apply to deep tread,
winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use
spare tires, light truck or LT type
tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or
limited production tires as defined
in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104 (c)(2). U.S. Department of
Transportation Tire quality
grades: The U.S. Department of
Transportation requires Ford
Motor Company to give you the
following information about tire
grades exactly as the government
has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear 1½ times as well on
the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
WARNING
The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning or peak traction
characteristics.
273Wheels and Tires
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The traction grades, from highest
to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled
conditions on specified
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Temperature A B C
WARNING
The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B and C,
representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 139. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
Glossary of Tire Terminology
* Tire label: A label showing the
original equipment tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure
and the maximum weight the
vehicle can carry.
* Tire Identification Number
(TIN): A number on the sidewall
of each tire providing information
about the tire brand and
manufacturing plant, tire size and
date of manufacture. Also referred
to as DOT code.
* Inflation pressure: A measure
of the amount of air in a tire.
* Standard load: A class of
P-metric or Metric tires designed
to carry a maximum load at 35 psi
[37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires].
Increasing the inflation pressure
beyond this pressure will not
increase the tire’s load carrying
capability.
* Extra load: A class of P-metric
or Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 41 psi
[43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires].
Increasing the inflation pressure
beyond this pressure will not
increase the tire’s load carrying
capability.
274Wheels and Tires
Page 278 of 473

* kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of
air pressure.
* PSI: Pounds per square inch, a
standard unit of air pressure.
* Cold tire pressure: The tire
pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct
sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven for
1 mile (1.6 km).
* Recommended inflation
pressure: The cold inflation
pressure found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door
edge that meets the door-latch
post, next to the driver's seating
position), or Tire Label located on
the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door.
* B-pillar: The structural member
at the side of the vehicle behind
the front door
* Bead area of the tire: Area of
the tire next to the rim.
* Sidewall of the tire: Area
between the bead area and the
tread.
* Tread area of the tire: Area of
the perimeter of the tire that
contacts the road when mounted
on the vehicle.
* Rim: The metal support (wheel)
for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated. Information Contained on the
Tire Sidewall
Both U.S. and Canada Federal
regulations require tire
manufacturers to place
standardized information on the
sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and
describes the fundamental
characteristics of the tire and also
provides a U.S. DOT Tire
Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case
of a recall.
Information on P Type Tires
H
I
J
KLM A B C D E
F
G
E142543
P215/65R15 95H is an example of
a tire size, load index and speed
rating. The definitions of these
items are listed below. (Note that
the tire size, load index and speed
rating for your vehicle may be
different from this example.)
275Wheels and Tires
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A. P: Indicates a tire, designated
by the Tire and Rim Association,
that may be used for service on
cars, sport utility vehicles,
minivans and light trucks. Note: If
your tire size does not begin with
a letter this may mean it is
designated by either the European
Tire and Rim Technical
Organization or the Japan Tire
Manufacturing Association.
B. 215: Indicates the nominal
width of the tire in millimeters
from sidewall edge to sidewall
edge. In general, the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
C. 65: Indicates the aspect ratio
which gives the tire's ratio of
height to width.
D. R: Indicates a radial type tire.
E. 15: Indicates the wheel or rim
diameter in inches. If you change
your wheel size, you will have to
purchase new tires to match the
new wheel diameter.
F. 95: Indicates the tire's load
index. It is an index that relates to
how much weight a tire can carry.
You may find this information in
your owner’s manual. If not,
contact a local tire dealer.
Note: You may not find this
information on all tires because it
is not required by federal law. G. H: Indicates the tire's speed
rating. The speed rating denotes
the speed at which a tire is
designed to be driven for extended
periods of time under a standard
condition of load and inflation
pressure. The tires on your vehicle
may operate at different
conditions for load and inflation
pressure. These speed ratings may
need to be adjusted for the
difference in conditions. The
ratings range from 81 mph (130
km/h) to 186 mph (299 km/h).
These ratings are listed in the
following chart.
Note: You may not find this
information on all tires because it
is not required by federal law.
mph ( km/h)Letter
rating
81 mph (130 km/h)M
87 mph (140 km/h)N
99 mph (159 km/h)Q
106 mph (171 km/h)R
112 mph (180 km/h)S
118 mph (190 km/h)T
124 mph (200 km/h)U
130 mph (210 km/h)H
149 mph (240 km/h)V
276Wheels and Tires
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mph ( km/h)Letter
rating
168 mph (270 km/h)W
186 mph (299 km/h)Y
Note: For tires with a maximum
speed capability over 149 mph
(240 km/h), tire manufacturers
sometimes use the letters ZR. For
those with a maximum speed
capability over 186 mph (299
km/h), tire manufacturers always
use the letters ZR.
H. U.S. DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN): This begins with
the letters DOT and indicates that
the tire meets all federal
standards. The next two numbers
or letters are the plant code
designating where it was
manufactured, the next two are
the tire size code and the last four
numbers represent the week and
year the tire was built. For
example, the numbers 317 mean
the 31st week of 1997. After 2000
the numbers go to four digits. For
example, 2501 means the 25th
week of 2001. The numbers in
between are identification codes
used for traceability. This
information is used to contact
customers if a tire defect requires
a recall.
I. M+S or M/S: Mud and Snow, or
AT : All Terrain, or
AS: All Season. J. Tire Ply Composition and
Material Used: Indicates the
number of plies or the number of
layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and sidewall. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate
the ply materials in the tire and the
sidewall, which include steel,
nylon, polyester, and others.
K. Maximum Load: Indicates the
maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the
tire. See the Safety Compliance
Certification Label (affixed to
either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge
that meets the door-latch post,
next to the driver's seating
position), for the correct tire
pressure for your vehicle.
L. Treadwear, Traction and
Temperature Grades:
* Treadwear The treadwear
grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified
government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half times as
well on the government course as
a tire graded 100.
277Wheels and Tires